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The Blue Jays shouldn’t hesitate to pay Kyle Tucker like a superstar
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Photo credit: © David Banks-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Dec 6, 2025, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 6, 2025, 04:35 EST
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Kyle Tucker may lack the magnetic pull of some of baseball’s biggest stars, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t one — and the Blue Jays should treat him as such in free agency. 
The conversation surrounding Tucker, who reportedly visited the Blue Jays’ spring training facility in Florida on Wednesday, was much different heading into the 2025 season than it is right now. Following a shocking trade from the Houston Astros to the Chicago Cubs, many pundits thought he could command a $500 million contract in free agency if he wasn’t extended before reaching the open market. 
Fast forward to December, and some seemed to have cooled on Tucker after he underwhelmed in his debut season with the Cubs. He finished the year with 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 136 games played. His .841 OPS, while still 43% better than league average, was his worst since 2022. His .464 slugging percentage was his lowest career line. 
Tucker also didn’t wow anybody with his defensive work last year despite his reputation for being a five-tool player. He was worth -2 outs above average in the outfield, thanks in large part to his sprint speed ranking in just the 26th percentile. 
Yet, despite these noted concerns, some team is going to sign Tucker to a massive contract — and the Blue Jays should seriously consider being that team. 
Tucker is the epitome of what the organization values in its hitters. He’s patient, doesn’t strike out much, and does damage on pitches when he makes contact. He walked 87 times last year with just 88 strikeouts and a miniscule 17.6% chase rate. His expected batting (.274) and expected slugging (.475) were both better than his actual stats, suggesting he deserved better results based on his process. 
This is who Tucker is and likely will continue to be as a hitter. His power production didn’t fall off last year because his approach changed, but rather because he wasn’t hitting the ball hard nearly as often — and an injury is likely to blame for that.
Tucker played through a fracture in his hand from June onward. He had 12 home runs and a 150 wRC+ at the end of May, then hit 10 the rest of the way with a .421 slugging percentage. The injury unquestionably affected his swing; he finished the season with the lowest average exit velocity and hard-hit rate of his career. 
The Blue Jays, if anything, should use Tucker’s down season to their advantage. He doesn’t seem likely to command a contract worth anywhere close to $500 this offseason, and perhaps not even $400 million. Getting him a contract that pays $30 million or so annually would likely end up being an absolute steal for years to come.
Tucker is a lock for 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases when healthy. There is no reason to think he won’t be moving forward; his hand and shin injuries the last two years were fluky. Pairing him with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be a nightmare for opposing pitchers and set the Blue Jays up to compete for a decade. 
Kyle Tucker is the superstar the Blue Jays have been chasing — and if other teams don’t realize that, they should pay his price.

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